Sunday, August 29, 2004

MTV PUSHES THE ENVELOPE

IT'S the stage where Diana Ross felt up Lil' Kim, Britney and Madonna swapped spit, Prince bared his butt, and Michael Jackson virtually molested his then-wife Lisa Marie.
But fallout from a certain MTV-produced Super Bowl performance by Michael's sister Janet may make this year's show a little more family-friendly than perhaps audiences would wish.

The 22nd annual MTV Video Music Awards kick off tonight at 8 from its massive new home at American Airlines Arena in Miami. The show, which has traditionally been held at smaller venues in New York or Los Angeles, will unfold on five different stages - and, for the first time, will have no host.

In another first, many of the attending celebrities will be delivered to the red carpet via luxury yachts - and, as expected, the stars and their handlers and entourages have been competing fiercely to outdo each other in extravagance.

Presenters and performers include the recently de-pierced Christina Aguilera, Hilary Duff, Jessica Simpson, J.Lo and her former flame P. Diddy, Usher, Nelly, Dave Chapelle and Shaquille O'Neal, who was recently signed to the Miami Heat.

Among those hoping to be summoned to the stage by the presenters are Jay-Z (his "99 Problems" received the most nominations - six), Usher (who's up for five awards), and Beyonc‚, OutKast and No Doubt.

MTV's president, Van Toffler, who faced a firestorm of criticism after the Super Bowl "Nipplegate" scandal, isn't expecting any kind of repeat offense from this year's VMAs.

"At the end of the day, what Janet Jackson did at the Super Bowl didn't work for her," he said, "and the artists that we work with are professionals."

Toffler did, however, offer a tip that's good whether you'll be at the show itself or just watching it on TV.

"I would not be late to the show, especially in light of what happened last year," he said, referring to the girl-on-girl-on-girl kissing of Aguilera, Madonna and Spears.

"You never know what they're going to do or say," he added. "Our audience has come to expect of MTV, and this event, very unpredictable, compelling television. That is not going to change, regardless of the Super Bowl or the kiss."